Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday on November 2, 1983, when President Ronald Reagan signed legislation, following a 15-year campaign led by Coretta Scott King and activists. The holiday has been publicly observed since 1986 on the third Monday of January to honor Dr. King's legacy. January 19, 2026 was the first MLK Day not recognized with public celebration nor televised observance by a sitting United States president.